“She loves you, too,” came a mischievous voice from behind them. Brenda came in, hair tousled, robe fastened over long blue pajamas, yawning. “Oh boy, food, and I didn’t have to cook it! Clancey, you’re a wonder!”

Clancey laughed. “I love to cook.”

“Was that Grace on the phone?” Brenda asked her brother as she sat down at the table and filled a plate.

He made a face. “It was.” He fastened his shirt. “She has some of the most rigid beliefs,” he added on a sigh.

“She loves her work,” Clancey said simply. “It’s more important to her than anything else. She feels needed.” She sighed. “I think she sabotages relationships so that she can keep doing what she wants to do with her life.”

Colter and Brenda exchanged amused looks.

“She’s very nice,” Clancey added nervously.

“So are you, pet,” Brenda replied gently. “You look right at home in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” She smiled gently. “I love it here.”

“Yes, poor oppressed milk cows and all,” Brenda teased.

They all laughed.

Colter finished dressing and strapped on his gun belt before he stuck the big 1911 Colt .45 in the holster and pinned on his Ranger star.

“You look very nice,” Clancey said softly when he cocked his white Stetson over one eye.

He smiled. “You’re not bad yourself, kid,” he teased, eyeing her spotless white T-shirt and jeans that outlined a beautiful figure.

His phone rang. Again. He pulled it out and scowled. “Banks,” he said abruptly. He listened, made a face, glanced worriedly at Clancey. “Yes, I’ll be right there. Are they badly injured? Thank God. On my way.”

He hung up. “It’s the Martins,” he said, anticipating Clancey’s anxious expression. She’d gone to church with them for years. They were elderly, and Mr. Martin was crippled. “Someone roughed them up, trying to find you and Tad.”

“Morris,” Clancey said miserably. “It had to be Morris! Oh, the poor things! They’ve been so kind to us.” She choked on tears. “Will they be all right? And what if Morris comes back?”

He put his big hands on her shoulders. “I’ll handle it,” he said softly.

It was all he had to say. She looked up at him through a faint mist, but with perfect trust. “Okay,” she replied.

Brenda, watching them, had to hide a smile. They were already like two halves of a whole. Not that she didn’t share Clancey’s concern for the Martins, who went to church with them. They were kind people.

“Are you going in today?” Colter asked Brenda.

“No. I’ve got the day off.”

“Miles is in the bunkhouse. Billings is in position some damned where, he won’t say where, with a sniper rifle. We’re pretty much covered here, but you can call Sheriff Hayes Carson if anything happens while I’m gone,” he added grimly.